Pet supplement and methods of making

ABSTRACT

A pet supplement is provided and comprises an amount of probiotic microorganisms coated with a first fat component having a first melting point and a source of a sweetener component comprising sugar and a second fat component having a second melting point. The second melting point is higher than the first melting point. Methods of making the pet supplement are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/762,539, filed on Apr. 19, 2010 (abandoned), which, in turn, is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/168,400, filed on Jul. 7,2008 (pending), both of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to compositions comprising aprobiotic component as a pet food supplement, methods of making thesame, and packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates toa pet food composition as a supplement that comprises a probioticcomponent, a sweetener component, and a fat component, methods of makingthe supplement, and packaging of the supplement.

BACKGROUND

Compositions containing probiotic microorganisms are desirable,especially in the pet food art. While various commercial attempts havebeen made to achieve such compositions, many of these do not providesufficient efficacious levels of probiotic microorganism whether in liveor dormant state due to issues associated with susceptibility of themicroorganism to standard commercial pet food manufacturing procedures.For example, with pet food compositions in particular, efforts ofcoating or filling standard pet food kibbles with probioticmicroorganisms have been suggested but, in practice, often proveimpractical. To avoid issues associated with standard commercial foodmanufacture, other manufacturers may provide jars or probioticmicroorganism powder for sprinkling on standard foods. However, thismethod raises issues of convenience and compliance such that stillfurther development in this area is necessary to achieve an efficaciouscomposition and method of making the same that will be successful in themarketplace and gain widespread human use and use with pets.Furthermore, powder forms of probiotic microorganisms are not stableenough because as soon as powder forms are exposed to the ambientenvironment, moisture in the environment promotes premature activationof the probiotic microorganisms.

Thus, a probiotic in a very stable form is needed. Moreover, the stableform should be easily administrable such that the consumer is able toadminister it to the pet and be sure that the pet is ingesting theprobiotic. Furthermore, the probiotic microorganisms should be in acontrollable amount such that the owner knows that the pet is receivinga specific dose of the probiotic. Upon ingesting, the probiotic formshould be able to survive in the pet until it reaches and becomes liveand active in the gastrointestinal tract.

Therefore, a stable, easily administrable, survivable, and controllabledosing probiotic composition and process for making the same are needed.

SUMMARY

A pet supplement is provided and comprises an amount of probioticmicroorganisms coated with a first fat component having a first meltingpoint and a source of a sweetener component comprising sugar and asecond fat component having a second melting point. The second meltingpoint is higher than the first melting point. Methods of making the petsupplement are also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Numerous advantages and additional aspects of the present invention willbe apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments anddrawings that follow.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a process flow of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a process flow of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a primary package of one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3A is a section view of one embodiment of an enclosure of a primarypackage of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a secondary package of one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one form of indicia that can be usedwith embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one form of indicia that can be usedwith embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device and such further applications ofthe principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normallyoccur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates arecontemplated as within the scope of the invention.

Referenced herein are trade names for components including variousingredients utilized in some embodiments of the present invention.Embodiments of the inventions herein do not intend to be limited bymaterials under a particular trade name. Equivalent materials (e.g.those obtained from a different source under a different name orreference number) to those referenced by trade name herein may besubstituted and utilized in the descriptions herein. Furthermore,referenced herein may be certain brand names of various pieces ofequipment used in methods or processing steps. Equivalent pieces ofequipments may also be substituted and utilized in the descriptionsherein.

Definitions

As used herein, the term “pet” is defined by a domestic animal,including, but not limited to, domestic dogs, cats, horses, cows,ferrets, rabbits, pigs, and the like. Domestic dogs and cats are used inexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

As used herein, the term “viable probiotic microorganism” or the like isdefined by a probiotic microorganism in its live state, which bydefinition herein includes, but is not limited to, those in the dormantstate and spores.

As used herein, the term “supplement” is defined by a form of a petfood, such as a tablet, capsule, or the like, or other forms such asbiscuits, chews, edible films or other treats, which are intended to beused not as entire pet meals but in addition to regularly consumed petfood meals.

The present invention relates to a pet food composition as a supplementthat comprises a probiotic component, a sweetener component, and a fatcomponent, methods of making the same, and packaging for the supplement.

Compositions of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to compositions that may be sufficientlystable such that probiotic microorganisms are still live or dormant inthe compositions at the time of ingestion by a mammal, therebymaintaining activity of the microorganism. The compositions cancomprise: (a) a probiotic component; (b) a sweetener component; and (c)optionally a cocoa butter component.

As discovered herein, it is found that the sweetener component can beuseful as a flowing agent to promote processing of the composition.Without the use of the sweetener component, certain problems can arise,including bubbling and unsmooth flowing.

The composition may be of any form that is orally administrable. Forexample, the composition may be in the form of tablets, capsules,supplements, or the like. Other forms may include powders comprising theprobiotic and sweetener components, for use in combining with foodsordinarily consumed by a mammal.

In one embodiment, the composition is a pet food composition. As usedherein, the term “pet food composition,” means a composition that isintended for ingestion by the pet. Pet food compositions may include,without limitation, nutritionally balanced compositions suitable fordaily feed, as well as supplements (e.g., treats, edible films), whichmay or may not be nutritionally balanced. As such pet food compositions,or components thereof, may or may not be nutritionally balanced. As usedherein, the term “nutritionally balanced,” with reference to the petfood composition or a component thereof, means that the composition orcomponent has known required nutrients to sustain life in proper amountsand proportion based on recommendations of recognized authorities in thefield of pet nutrition, except for the additional need for water.

Pet food compositions are readily understood in the art to be, forexample, dry foods (e.g., at least partially extruded kibbles) and lessbrittle foods (e.g., semi-moist foods), or mixtures thereof. Pet foodcompositions may also be supplements, for example, tablets, capsules, orthe like, or other forms such as biscuits, chews, edible films or othertreats.

The probiotic component and the sweetener component can be described asfollows:

The Probiotic Component

The probiotic component may comprise one or more yeast or bacterialprobiotic microorganisms suitable for pet consumption and effective forimproving the microbial balance in the pet gastrointestinal tract or foranother benefit, such as disease or condition relief or prophylaxis, tothe pet. Various probiotic microorganisms known in the art are suitablefor use in some embodiments the present invention. See, for example, WO03/075676, to Societe Des Produits Nestle, published Sep. 18, 2003, andWO 07/126990A2, to Nestec, published Nov. 22, 2007.

The probiotic component can be any of a number of genera of bacteria.Non-limiting examples of the genera of bacteria include Bacillus,Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus (e.g., Enterococcus faeciumDSM 10663), Lactobacillus, and Leuconostoc, and combinations thereof.Those of the genera Bacillus may form spores. In one embodiment, theprobiotic component does not form a spore. Non-limiting examples oflactic acid bacteria suitable for use herein include strains ofStreptococcus lactis, Streptococcus cremoris, Streptococcusdiacetylactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus,Lactobacillus acidophilus (e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus strain DSM13241), Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus bifidus, Lactobacilluscasei, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillusrhamnosus, Lactobacillus delbruekii, Lactobacillus thermophilus,Lactobacillus fermentii, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillusreuteri, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis,Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacteriumpseudolongum, and Pediococcus cerevisiae, or mixtures thereof,preferably Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium infantis, ormixtures thereof.

As a non-limiting example, strains of Bifidobacteria isolated fromresected and washed canine gastrointestinal tract as disclosed in U.S.Publication Nos. 2005/0152884; 2005/0158293; 2005/0158294; and2005/0175598A1, along with WO05060707A2 can be used. Strains isolatedfrom resected and washed feline gastrointestinal tract may beparticularly useful. Non-limiting examples of feline strains that can beused are disclosed in U.S. Publication Nos. 2006/0269534 and2006/0270020.

In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention can have aviable probiotic microorganism count of at least about 10⁵ colonyforming units (CFU) per gram of composition, or at least about 10⁶ CFUper gram of composition, or at least about 10⁸ CFU per gram ofcomposition. For example, the composition may have a viable probioticmicroorganism count of up to about 10¹⁴ CFU per gram of composition, upto about 10¹² CFU per gram of composition, or up to about 10¹⁰ CFU pergram of composition, or up to about 10⁹ CFU per gram of composition. CFUis determined using the method provided as part of the EuropeanPharmacopoeial Methods, 2003, Section 2.6.12. Advantageously, thecomposition provided herein has a shelf life of at least about threemonths, alternatively at least about six months, alternatively fromabout three months to about twenty-four months, alternatively from aboutsix months to about eighteen months. As used herein, the term “shelflife” refers to that property of the composition whereby about 1% ormore, alternatively about 5% or more, alternatively about 10% or more,alternatively about 25% or more, alternatively about 50% or more,alternatively about 75% or more, of the probiotic microorganisms of thecomposition are live viable and active at the referenced time periodafter exposure to ambient environmental conditions.

As further examples, the compositions may comprise at least about0.001%, alternatively at least about 0.01%, alternatively at least about0.1%, alternatively at least about 0.5%, and alternatively at leastabout 1% of the probiotic component, by weight of the composition. Asfurther examples, the compositions may comprise about 99% or less,alternatively about 75% or less, alternatively about 50% or less,alternatively about 25% or less, alternatively about 10% or less, andalternatively about 5% or less of the probiotic component, by weight ofthe composition.

The Sweetener Component

The compositions herein comprise a sweetener component, which can befound useful as a flowing agent of the composition during processing.Without the use of the sweetener component, certain problems can arise,including bubbling and unsmooth flowing. The sweetener component, asdefined herein, can comprise a monosaccharide, disaccharide, or anymixture thereof.

In one embodiment, the compositions herein comprise a monosaccharide.The monosaccharide utilized herein is of the general formulaC_(n),H_(2n)O_(n), wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 3.Non-limiting examples of monosaccharides that may be used includesorbitol, mannitol, erythrose, threose, ribose, arabinose, xylose,ribulose, glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, sorbose, and anymixture thereof. In one embodiment, the monosaccharide may includesorbitol, mannitol, glucose, mannose, fructose, or any mixture thereof.In another embodiment, the monosaccharide is sorbitol.

In one embodiment, the compositions herein comprise a disaccharide. Thedisaccharide utilized herein is of the general formulaC_(n)H_(2n)—2O_(n−1), wherein the disaccharide has 2 monosaccharideunits connected via a glycosidic bond. In such formula, n is an integerequal to or greater than 3. Non-limiting examples of disaccharides thatmay be utilized herein include sucrose, maltose, lactitol, maltitol,maltulose, lactose, and any mixture thereof. In another embodiment, themonosaccharide is sucrose.

In one embodiment, which may be particularly advantageous to stabilityof the probiotic component wherein a sweetener component is utilized,the sweetener component comprises a monosaccharide or disaccharidehaving a melting point of from about 80° C. to about 140° C., or fromabout 90° C. to about 120° C. Non-limiting examples includemonosaccharides, such as sorbitol or xylitol.

As examples, the compositions herein may comprise at least about 0.001%,or at least about 0.1%, or at least about 1%, or at least about 5%, orat least about 10%, or at least about 20% of the sweetener component,all by weight of the composition. As further examples, the compositionsherein may comprise about 99% or less, or about 95% or less, or about90% or less, or about 75% or less, or about 50% or less of the sweetenercomponent, all by weight of the composition.

Many sweetener components can be used. The sweetener componentsassociated with embodiments of the present invention can also beconsidered as sources of sweeteners in that they comprise not only asweetener component but also other components. An example of a sweetenercomponent, or what can be considered a source of a sweetener component,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention iscommercially available from the Blommer Chocolate Company of Chicago,Ill., and is commercially known as Blommer white kreemy coating. TheBlommer white kreemy coating comprises a confectioner's white coatingmade from a blend of sugar, vegetable oils, nonfat milk powder,lecithin, and artificial color and flavor. More specifically, theBlommer white kreemy coating comprises sugar, partially hydrogenatedpalm kernel oil, nonfat milk powder, soy lecithin added as anemulsifier, monoglycerides, artificial color in the form of titaniumdioxide, and artificial flavor. The Blommer white kreemy coating isgenerally a complete crystalline solid at 5° C. and begins crystallizingat 18° C. It begins melting at 23° C. and is in complete liquid phase at38° C. Other white kreemy coatings are available from othermanufacturers other than Blommer and can be used as well.

The final pet food composition, which can be in the form of asupplement, can comprise between about 8% and about 10% protein, betweenabout 25% and about 35% fat, between about 1% and 1.5% crude fiber,between about 1% and 3% moisture/water, between about 2% and 3% ash andabout 5×10¹⁰ CFU probiotic component, all per supplement. The supplementcan be of many different sizes and weights.

Optional Components

The present composition may optionally comprise one or more furthercomponents, for example an optional component as described herein.

In one embodiment, the compositions may comprise, on a dry matter basis,from about 0.1% to about 30% crude protein, or from about 1% to about20% crude protein, by weight of the composition. The crude proteinmaterial may comprise any material having a protein content of at leastabout 15% by weight, non-limiting examples of which include vegetableproteins such as soybean, cottonseed, and peanut, animal proteins suchas casein, albumin, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, turkey, poultry and meattissue and bacterial ingredients such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium,Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Bacillus. Non-limiting examples of meattissue useful herein include fresh meat, and dried or rendered mealssuch as fish meal, poultry meal, meat meal, bone meal, and the like.Other types of suitable crude protein sources include wheat gluten orcorn gluten, and proteins extracted from microbial sources such asyeast.

The compositions may comprise a source of fat. In one embodiment, thecompositions may comprise, on a dry matter basis, from about 0.5% toabout 10% fat, from about 2.0% to about 5.0% fat, by weight of thecomposition. Sources of fat are widely known, and as used herein areinterpreted to include (as examples) wax, fat, fatty acid, and/or lipid.

Specific examples of wax, fat, fatty acid, or lipid may often beinterchangeable in accordance with nomenclature common in the art; forexample, a lipid may often also be characterized as a fat. The inventorsherein do not intend to be limited by any particular designation ofnomenclature, and classifications of a particular material as a wax,fat, fatty acid, lipid, or the like is made for purposes of convenienceonly.

For example, the fat may comprise a cocoa butter component. As definedherein the cocoa butter component comprises one or more of cocoa butter,a cocoa butter extender, a cocoa butter replacer, or a cocoa buttersubstitute. A given fat may be classified as one of a cocoa butterextender, cocoa butter replacer, or cocoa butter substitute, orsometimes may be classified as two or more of a cocoa butter extender,cocoa butter replacer, and cocoa butter substitute. Where used, each ofthe cocoa butter extender, cocoa butter replacer, and cocoa buttersubstitute may be one particular fat within the referenced class or anymixtures of such fats.

Cocoa butter is commonly known in the art and may generally refer to thefat from cocoa beans used to prepare chocolate. Cocoa beans areobtainable from the pods of cocoa trees (e.g., Theobroma cocoa). Cocoabutter is commercially available from the Blommer Chocolate Company ofChicago, Ill. An example of a cocoa butter available from Blommercomprises their standard cocoa butter. This cocoa butter can be a primepressed cocoa butter that has been mechanically pressed from properlyroasted, winnowed, and milled blended chocolate liquor. Subsequent topressing, the cocoa butter can be centrifuged to remove any remainingsolids. The cocoa butter flavor can then be free from any off odors oroff notes. The melting point can be around 30 to 35° C. Furthermore, thewater activity of the cocoa butter can be below the required wateractivity levels to support the growth of microorganisms.

The cocoa butter component may additionally or alternatively comprise acocoa butter extender. These extenders are also commonly known in theart, and may generally refer to other fats having solid fat index (SFI)profiles which are similar to cocoa butter. Cocoa butter extenders maycomprise fat containing C₁₆ or C₁₈ fatty acids, or combinations thereof.Palm oil, shea oil, illipe butter, mango butter, salt butter, cottonseedoil, and soybean oil, including fractionated and/or partiallyhydrogenated forms, are non-limiting examples of cocoa butter extenders.

The cocoa butter component may additionally or alternatively comprise acocoa butter replacer. These replacers will also be commonly known inthe art, and may generally refer to fats having melting or otherproperties, or structures, similar to those of cocoa butter, which arebased on non-lauric fats (e.g., C₁₆ or C₁₈). These include vegetableoils such as palm oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, and rapeseed oil,including fractions and/or partially hydrogenated forms thereof. Oneexample is ASTRAL® R (partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean oiland cottonseed oil), commercially available from Humko Oil Products,Cordova, Tenn.).

The cocoa butter component may additionally or alternatively comprise acocoa butter substitute. These substitutes will also be commonly knownin the art, and may generally refer to hard fats having melting or otherproperties, or structures, similar to those of cocoa butter, but whichare based on lauric fats (C₁₂). Such cocoa butter substitutes may tendto have melting points higher than that of cocoa butter, making thesesubstitutes interesting for imparting heat resistance to compositions.These include vegetable oils such as palm kernel oil and coconut oil,including fractions and/or partially hydrogenated forms thereof.

In one embodiment, the cocoa butter component comprises at least onelipid selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, cottonseed oil,coconut oil, rapeseed oil, palm kernel oil, fractions of the foregoing,and partially hydrogenated forms of the foregoing.

Alternatively or additionally, the fat may comprise an animal-derivedfat component. As will be commonly known in the art, the animal-derivedfat component comprises a fat derived from an animal. Non-limitingexamples include beef, poultry, pork, and lamb (e.g., lards andtallows). Dairy fats may also be examples, including milkfat,fractionated milkfat, and butterfat.

In one embodiment, the fat may comprise a combination of a cocoa buttercomponent and an animal-derived fat component at a ratio of from about5:95 to about 95:5, or from about 5:95 to about 25:75, or from about5:95 to about 50:50, all by weight. In another embodiment herein, thefat comprises the cocoa butter component and the animal-derived fatcomponent at a ratio of from about 20:80 to about 45:55, or from about25:75 to about 40:60, all by weight.

Alternatively or additionally, the fat may comprise a fatty acid.Illustrative sources include omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-3-fatty acids are preferably derived from marine (fish) sources,including menhaden (a herring-like fish) and, as such, may be derivedfrom such sources. Non-limiting examples of omega-3-fatty acid sourcesinclude docosahexaenoic acid (“DHA”) or eicosapentaenoic acid (“EPA”),such as OMEGAPURE, commercially available from Omega Protein, Inc.,Houston, Tex. All forms of the fatty acid are also contemplated herein.For example, DHA is often provided as a triglyceride. As such, wherein aspecific fatty acid is mentioned (e.g., “DHA”), such fatty acid includesthe free form of the fatty acid as well as other forms such as thenaturally occurring triglyceride or other form. The terms, DHA, EPA, orother specific terms are utilized for convenience as will be commonlyunderstood in the art to include all forms of such termed material.

Omega-6-fatty acids may be utilized herein. As is well-understood in theart, omega-6-fatty acids are those fatty acid materials having a doublebond positioned between the sixth and seventh carbon atoms of the fattyacid chain, when counting from the omega (distal) carbon atom of thechain.

Other examples of suitable fatty acids may include oleic acid, stearicacid, palmitic acid, and lauric acids, including suitable salts thereof.Even further examples of suitable fatty acids include esters or otherderivatives thereof, such as cetyl palmitate, acetic, lactic, or citricmono- and di-glyceride fatty acids, isopropyl palmitate,isopropylmyristate, and mono-, di-, and triglycerides (some of which mayalso be characterized as fats).

The compositions may comprise a mixture of omega-3-fatty acids andomega-6-fatty acids, often through utilization of various materialscontaining these components. Certain compositions for use herein may beenriched in one or more specific omega-3-fatty acids or omega-6-fattyacids.

Alternatively or additionally, the compositions may comprise wax. Forexample, illustrative waxes include paraffin wax, beeswax (e.g., whiteor yellow), carnuba wax, candellila wax, microcrystalline wax, rice branwax, cetyl ester wax, and emulsifying wax.

Alternatively or additionally, the compositions may comprise apolysaccharide such as shellac, chitin, chitosan or alginate.

The compositions herein may optionally comprise a source ofcarbohydrate. Grains or cereals such as rice, corn, milo, sorghum,barley, alfalfa, wheat, and the like are illustrative sources ofcarbohydrate. These carbohydrate sources, and typical levels thereof,are widely known.

The compositions may comprise a component such as dried whey or otherdairy by-products.

The compositions may comprise a fermentable fiber. Fermentable fibersare well-known in the art. The fermentable fiber may be any fiber sourcewhich intestinal bacteria present in the animal can ferment to produceshort chain fatty acids or other metabolic components. Non-limitingexamples of such fermentable fibers include beet pulp (from sugar beet),gum arabic, gum talha, psyllium, rice bran, carob bean gum, citrus pulp,pectin, fructooligosaccharide, mannanoligofructose, soy fiber,arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharide, arabinoxylan, and mixturesthereof.

In general, fermentable fibers are not digested by mammals but may bemetabolized by intestinal bacterial species, such as Bifidobacterium.However, not all intestinal bacteria can metabolize fermentable fiber.In particular, bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Clostridia areunable to process such fiber to any meaningful degree. This preferentialdigestibility, which is applicable for fermentable fiber as a class, canbe used to improve the overall bacterial flora in the small intestine ofthe companion animal. Because fermentable fibers will only feed “good”bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, the amounts ofharmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Clostridia may decreasedue to a reduction in food resources. Therefore, by providing apreferred food source for beneficial bacterial species, a dietsupplemented with fermentable fiber can increase “good” intestinalbacteria while reducing the amount of “bad” bacteria.

Beet pulp and fructooligosaccharide, particularly short chainoligofructose, are particularly preferred fermentable fibers for useherein. As an example, fructooliogosaccharides are naturally occurringcompounds which can be found in a variety of fruits or vegetablesincluding banana, barley, garlic, honey, onion, rye, brown sugar,tomato, asparagus, artichoke, wheat, yacon, or chicory.Fructooligosaccharide may for example be provided as chicory root, as along chain oligofructose (e.g., inulin), or as short chainoligofructose. Particularly useful herein are fructooligosaccharidecomprising at least one of 1-kestose (abbreviated as GF₂), nystose(GF₃), and 1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose (GF₄). Whilefructooligosaccharides can be extracted from plants such as thosementioned herein, they can also be formed artificially by adding one,two, or three fructose units to a sucrose molecule by aB-(2-1)-glycosidic linkage of the fructose unit(s) to the fructose unitof sucrose. As an example, fructooligosaccharides are commerciallyavailable under the tradename NUTRAFLORA from Golden TechnologiesCompany, Incorporated (which is a short chain oligofructose comprising1-kestose, nystose, and 1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose). As anotherexample, a mixture of short chain fructooligosaccharide and inulin canbe PREBIO1 or a mixture of commercially available RAFTILOSE andRAFTILINE.

The fructooligosaccharide may be a short chain oligofructose, which willbe well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Particularly usefulherein are short chain oligofructose comprising 1-kestose (abbreviatedas GF₂), nystose (GF₃), and 1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose (GF₄). In apreferred embodiment, the short chain oligofructose comprises from about25% to about 45% 1-kestose, from about 25% to about 45% nystose, andfrom about 1% to about 20% 1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose, by weight ofthe short chain oligofructose, alternatively from about 30% to about 40%1-kestose, from about 50% to about 60% nystose, and from about 5% toabout 15% 1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose, by weight of the short chainoligofructose. As an example, short chain oligofructose is commerciallyavailable under the tradename NUTRAFLORA from Golden TechnologiesCompany, Incorporated (which is a short chain oligofructose comprisingabout 35% 1-kestose, 55% nystose, and 10%1F-beta-fructofuranosylnystose, all by weight of the short chainoligofructose).

In an embodiment herein, the fermentable fibers may display certainorganic matter disappearance percentages. In this optional embodiment,the fermentable fibers may have an organic matter disappearance (OMD) offrom about 15% to about 60% when fermented by fecal bacteria in vitroover a 24 hour period. That is, from about 15% to about 50% of the totalorganic matter originally present is fermented and converted by thefecal bacteria. The organic matter disappearance of the fibers isalternatively from about 20% to about 50%, alternatively from about 30%to about 40%.

Thus, in vitro OMD percentage may be calculated as follows: (1—-((OMresidue−OM blank)/original OM))×100, where OM residue is the organicmatter recovered after 24 hours of fermentation, OM blank is the organicmatter recovered in corresponding blank tubes (i.e., tubes containingmedium and diluted feces, but no substrate), and original OM is thatorganic matter placed into the tube prior to fermentation. Additionaldetails of the procedure are found in Sunvold et al., J. Anim. Sci.,Vol. 73, pp. 1099-1109 (1995).

In one embodiment herein, the compositions may comprise at least about0.25% total fermentable fiber, by weight of the composition. By “totalfermentable fiber” it is meant that the referenced level is determinedby adding the relative amounts of each fermentable fiber present in thecomposition. For example, wherein a composition comprises 1%fructooligosaccharide and 0.5% beet pulp, by weight of the composition,and no other fermentable fiber, the composition comprises 1.5% totalfermentable fiber, by weight of the composition. Alternatively, thepresent compositions may comprise at least about 0.5% total fermentablefiber, at least about 1% total fermentable fiber, at least about 2%total fermentable fiber, alternatively from about 1% to about 20% totalfermentable fiber, alternatively from about 1% to about 10% totalfermentable fiber, alternatively from about 2% to about 10% totalfermentable fiber, or alternatively from about 3% to about 8% totalfermentable fiber, all by weight of the pet food composition.

In one embodiment herein, the compositions may comprise a nutraceutical.Nutraceutical as used herein means a foodstuff (as a fortified food ordietary supplement) that provides health benefits.

Additional material that can be present in the composition of thepresent invention include minerals such as but not limited to CalciumCarbonate, Calcium, Boron, Selenium, Calcium Chloride, Chloride, FerrousFumarate, Zinc Acetate, Choline Chloride, Chromium, Ferrous Gluconate,Zinc Sulfate, Chromium, Tripicolinate, Cobalt, Magnesium Oxide, ZincGluconate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Copper, Magnesium Sulfate, FerrousSulfate, Iodine, Magnesium Carbonate, Monosodium Phosphate, Iron,Chromium Picolinate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium, Calcium Citrate,Potassium Citrate, Manganese, Calcium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate,Phosphorus, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Bisulfate, Potassium, ChromiumChloride, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Sodium, Chromium Nicotinate,Tricalcium Phosphate, Zinc, Chromium Citrate, Yeast containing any ofthese minerals and the like.

Even further additional materials can be present in compositions ofembodiments of the present invention. Examples include actives andnon-actives. Non-limiting examples include: protein ingredients, ofwhich non-limiting examples include chicken meals, chicken, chickenby-product meals, lamb, lamb meals, turkey, turkey meals, beef, beefby-products, viscera, fish meal, enterals, kangaroo, white fish,venison, soybean meal, soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate,corn gluten meal, corn protein concentrate, and distillers dried grainssolubles; starch ingredients, of which non-limiting examples includecereals, grains, corn, wheat, rice, oats, corn grits, sorghum, grainsorghum, milo, wheat bran, oat bran, amaranth, Durum, and semolina;fiber ingredients, of which non-limiting examples includefructooligosaccharides (FOS), beet pulp, mannanoligosaccharides (MOS),oat fiber, citrus pulp, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), guar gum, gumarabic, apple pomace, citrus fiber, fiber extracts, fiber derivatives,dried beet fiber (sugar removed), cellulose, α-cellulose,galactooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides, and oligo derivativesfrom starch, inulin, psyllium, pectins, citrus pectin, guar gum, xanthangum, alginates, gum arabic, gum talha, beta-glucans, chitins, lignin,celluloses, non-starch polysaccharides, carrageenan, reduced starch, soyoligosaccharids, trehalose, raffinose, stachyose, lactulose,polydextrose, oligodextran, gentioligosaccharide, pecticoligosaccharide, and hemicellulose; Other fat ingredients, of whichnon-limiting examples include poultry fat, chicken fat, turkey fat, porkfat, lard, tallow, beef fat, vegetable oils, corn oil, soy oil,cottonseed oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, linseed oil, canola oil,rapeseed oil, fish oil, menhaden oil, anchovy oil, and olestra; mineralingredients, of which non-limiting examples include sodium selenite,monosodium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, ferroussulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide,potassium iodide, and cobalt carbonate; vitamin ingredients, of whichnon-limiting examples include choline chloride, vitamin E supplement,ascorbic acid, vitamin A acetate, calcium pantothenate, pantothenicacid, biotin, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), vitamin B12supplement, niacin, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2),inositol, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3supplement, folic acid, vitamin C, and ascorbic acid; polyphenols, ofwhich non-limiting examples include tea extract, rosemary extract,rosemarinic acid, coffee extract, caffeic acid, turmeric extract,blueberry extract, grape extract, grapeseed extract, soy extract; aminoacids, of which non-limiting examples include 1-Tryptophan, Taurine,Histidine, Camosine, Alanine, Cysteine, Arginine, Methionine,Tryptophan, Lysine, Asparagine, Aspartic acid, Phenylalanine, Valine,Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Leucine, Glycine, Glutamine, Tyrosine,Homocysteine, Omithine, Citruline, Glutamic acid, Proline, and Serine;carotenoids, of which non-limiting examples include lutein, astaxanthin,zeaxanthin, bixin, lycopene, and beta-carotene; antioxidants, of whichnon-limiting examples include Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Vitamin C,Vitamin A, plant-derived materials, carotenoids (described above),selenium, and CoQ10 (Co-enzyme Q10); fatty acids, of which non-limitingexamples include arachidonic acid, alpha-linoleic acid, gamma linolenicacid, linoleic acid, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), docosahexanoic acid(DHA), and fish oils as a source of EPA and/or DHA; glucose mimetics, ofwhich non-limiting examples include glucose anti-metabolites whichinclude 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 5-thio-D-glucose, 3-O-methylglucose,anhydrosugars including 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, 2,5 -anhydro-D-glucitol,and 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol, mannoheptulose, and avocado extractcomprising mannoheptulose; other ingredients, of which non-limitingexamples include beef broth, brewers dried yeast, egg, egg product, flaxmeal, DL methionine, amino acids, leucine, lysine, arginine, cysteine,cystine, aspartic acid, polyphosphates such as sodium hexametaphosphate(SHMP), sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, zinc chloride,copper gluconate, stannous chloride, stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride,triclosan, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, green lippedmussel, blue lipped mussel, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), boron, boricacid, phytoestrogens, phytoandrogens, genistein, diadzein, L-carnitine,chromium picolinate, chromium tripicolinate, chromium nicotinate,acid/base modifiers, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, calciumcarbonate, calcium chloride, sodium bisulfate; eucalyptus, lavender,peppermint, plasticizers, colorants, flavorants, sweeteners, bufferingagents, slip aids, carriers, pH adjusting agents, natural ingredients,stabilizers, biological additives such as enzymes (including proteasesand lipases), chemical additives, coolants, chelants, denaturants, drugastringents, emulsifiers, external analgesics, fragrance compounds,humectants, opacifying agents (such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide),anti-foaming agents (such as silicone), preservatives (such as butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), propyl gallate,benzalkonium chloride, EDTA, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, parabensand mixtures thereof), reducing agents, solvents, hydrotropes,solubilizing agents, suspending agents (non-surfactant), solvents,viscosity increasing agents (aqueous and non-aqueous), sequestrants, andkeratolytics.

Compositions of embodiments of the present invention may also comprise aprebiotic component. “Prebiotic” includes substances or compounds thatare fermented by the intestinal flora of the pet and hence promote thegrowth or development of lactic acid bacteria in the gastro-intestinaltract of the pet at the expense of pathogenic bacteria. The result ofthis fermentation can be a release of fatty acids, in particularshort-chain fatty acids in the colon. This release can have the effectof reducing the pH value in the colon. Non-limiting examples of suitableprebiotics include oligosaccharides, such as inulin and its hydrolysisproducts commonly known as fructooligosaccharides,galacto-oligosaccarides, xylo-oligosaccharides, or oligo derivatives ofstarch. The prebiotics may be provided in any suitable form. Forexample, the prebiotic may be provided in the form of plant materialthat contains the fiber. Suitable plant materials include asparagus,artichokes, onions, wheat or chicory, or residues of these plantmaterials. Alternatively, the prebiotic fiber may be provided as aninulin extract, for example extracts from chicory are suitable. Suitableinulin extracts may be obtained from Orafti SA of Tirlemont 3300,Belgium under the trade mark “Raftiline”. For example, the inulin may beprovided in the form of Raftiline (g) ST which is a fine white powder,which contains about 90 to about 94% by weight of inulin, up to about 4%by weight of glucose and fructose, and about 4 to 9% by weight ofsucrose. Alternatively, the fiber may be in the form of afructooligosaccharide such as obtained from Orafti SA of Tirlemont 3300,Belgium under the trade mark “Raftilose”. For example, the inulin may beprovided in the form of Raftilose (g) P95. Otherwise, thefructooligosaccharides may be obtained by hydrolyzing inulin, byenzymatic methods, or by using micro-organisms.

In one embodiment, a pet food supplement comprises a probioticcomponent, as described hereinabove, a cocoa butter component, asdescribed hereinabove, and a sweetener component, as describedhereinabove. The pet food supplement can comprise about 0.001% to about10% probiotic component, about 2 to about 4% cocoa butter component, andabout 0% to about 100% sweetener component, including any rangestherebetween for each of the components. Non-limiting examples ofparticular ranges include about 8% to about 10% of probiotic component,about 2% to about 4% of cocoa butter component, and about 85% to about95% of sweetener component.

Processing

The compositions herein may comprise any of a variety of components thatare sensitive to process conditions ordinarily attendant withmanufacture of a pet food. For example, the integrity of such sensitivecomponents may be preserved (either fully or partially). Non-limitingexamples of sensitive components include components that exhibit morethan about 10% loss (by weight) during standard extrusion processes whenincluded within a standard, commercial pet food, alternatively more thanabout 20% loss, alternatively more than about 50% loss. Extrusionprocesses are well-known in the art. Included or alternative examples ofsensitive components including antioxidants such as vitamins includingbut not limited to vitamin A (including forms thereof, such asbeta-carotene and lycopenes), vitamin C (including forms thereof),vitamin E (including forms thereof), vitamin D (including formsthereof), Phenols, Carotenoids, Alkaloids, xanthones, polyphenols,beta-carotene, organosulfur, curcumin, kaempherol, astaxanthin,gamma-glutamylcysteines, catechins, pterostilbene, canthaxanthin,cysteine sulfoxides, ellagic acid, quercetin, tunaxanthin,isothiocyanates, baicalin, tocopherols, myricetin, zeaxanthin,flavonoids, resveratrol, anthocyanins, bixin, isoflavonoids,vinpocetine, flavonols, lutein, Co-Q10, proanthocyanidins, lycopene,lipoic Acid and the like.

One embodiment of a process for making a pet food supplement inaccordance with the compositions disclosed above is describedhereinafter and is generally referred to in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 depicts aschematic of a process flow 10, which generally shows one embodiment ofa process of making a pet food supplement. In this embodiment, thecomposition of the supplement can comprise cocoa butter, sweetener inthe form of a white coating, one embodiment of which is describedhereinabove, and a probiotic component in the form of probioticmicroorganisms. Initially, cocoa butter can be heated up to around 130°F. and melted in cocoa butter tank 101, which can be a tank with jacket102 connected to a heat exchanger 103. This heating can be done at leasteight hours, or even longer, prior production of the final pet foodsupplement. Heating at least eight hours or more prior to productionhelps to remove residual water from the cocoa butter. Jacket 102 canhave circulating warm water used to heat up the cocoa butter product inthe tank 101. After heating and melting, the heated cocoa butter canthen be transported through heat exchanger 103 to cool down the cocoabutter to around 110° F. This cool down to 110 from 130° F. helps toreduce inactivation of the probiotic microorganisms by the heat of thecocoa butter. Heating to 130° F. can assist in removing moisture fromthe cocoa butter, which can prevent premature activation of theprobiotics microorganisms. However, 130° F. can be too high for theprobiotics microorganism because it can deactivate the probioticmicroorganism. At 110° F., deactivation of the probiotic microorganismswill generally not occur, and this temperature allows for a flowable andmixable cocoa butter component. From the heat exchanger 103, the cocoabutter can be transported by means of positive displacement pump 104through flow meter 105 into mix tank 108. Flow meter 105 helps tocontrol the proper amount of cocoa butter being transported by positivedisplacement pump 104. Screw pump 106 can be connected to mix tank 108through flow meter 107. Screw pump 106 doses the quantity of probioticmicroorganism into mix tank 108. Flow meter 107 helps to control theproper amount of probiotic microorganism into mix tank 108. Theprobiotic microorganism can be stored in a jar, bottle, or othercontainer and added to a hopper, which can be connected with the screwpump 106. Mix tank 108 can be a jacketed scrape surface mix tank. Thistank can be maintained at around 105° F. with warm water through jacket109. At 105° F., rather than at 110° F., the probiotics microorganismscan be stored and kept for longer periods of time. Thus, operating at105° F. at this point assists to prevent or inhibit any prematureinactivation of the probiotic microorganisms. Mix tank 108 can be thelocation of the mixing of the probiotic microorganisms and the heatedand melted cocoa butter.

Upon mixing of the cocoa butter and probiotic microorganisms, themixture can be transported from the mix tank 108 through pump 110 intomix tank 117. Pump 110 can be a Moyno pump. A Moyno pump can allow forvery gentle transportation of the mixture and thus can prevent orinhibit shear, damage, or other physical stress to the mixture and canbe used for circulating the cocoa butter and probiotic microorganismmixture over mix tank 108. Static mixer 111 and three-way valve 112 worktogether to promote thorough mixing of the cocoa butter and probioticmicroorganism mixture depending on the position of three-way valve 112.Three-way valve 112 can direct the mixture either back into mix tank 108or into mix tank 117. Clumping of the cocoa butter and microorganismmixture should be avoided, and thus static mixer 111 and three-way valve112 work together to reduce and attempt to eliminate clumping of thecocoa butter and probiotic microorganism mixture.

Once the mixture is mostly, if not completely, homogeneous and theprobiotic microorganisms are saturated or fully coated with the cocoabutter, three-way valve 112 can be changed to a position to direct themixture flow from mix tank 108 into mix tank 117. At this point,however, mix tank 117 can already contain the proper amount of whitecoating, or sweetener component, and transfer of the mixture of cocoabutter and probiotic microorganism from mix tank 108 to mix tank 117should not commence until so, in one embodiment. The sweetener, or whitecoating, can be pulled from white coating tank 113. White coating tank113 can have a jacket 114, which can assist in maintaining the tank at105° F. The white coating can be held at 105° F. for around 24 hours ormore prior to mixing it with the cocoa butter and probioticmicroorganism mixture. White coating tank 113 can hold for storage thewhite coating and can keep it in melted form for mixing with the cocoabutter and probiotic microorganism mixture. The white coating can bepulled from white coating tank 113 by means of positive displacementpump 115, which can be controlled by flow meter 116 for the correctdosing amount. It has been found that for consistency purposes and for abetter end product that it can be advantageous to mix the cocoa butterand probiotic microorganism mixture into the white coating in mix tank117. Mix tank 117 can have a jacket 118 and can be a scrape surface mixtank. Mix tank 117 can be maintained at around 100 to 105° F. with warmwater flowing through the jacket 118.

A Moyno pump 119 can be included and can be used to circulate the cocoabutter and probiotic microorganism mixture with the white coating overmix tank 117 to create a combined mixture. Static mixer 120 can be usedto promote thorough mixing of the cocoa butter and probioticmicroorganism mixture with the white coating and can be dependent on theposition of three-way valve 121.

Once the combined mixture is fully, or sufficiently, homogenous,three-way valve 121 can be switched to a position such that the combinedmixture can be transported by Moyno pump 119 away from the mix tank 117to other equipment that can be used to form the combined mixture intosupplement form.

If so desired, colorant can be dosed into mix tank 117 by means ofdosing colorant from mix tank 122 by means of positive displacementpump, which can be controlled by flow meter. An all-natural colorant canbe used. One non-limiting example of a colorant is CSL 37542 BrownDispersion OB, available from Sensient Colors of St. Louis, Mo. It canalso include caramel and paprika. However, it should be understood thanany fat soluble colorant can be used, natural or non-natural. Asnon-limiting examples, the compositions herein may comprise about 0.1%,about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, or about 0% to about 1% colorant,all by weight of the composition.

It should be understood that a conditioned room 125 that is shaded inFIG. 1 can control the temperature and relative humidity of the screwpump 106, the flow meter 107, the mix tank 108, the pump 110, the mixer111, and the three-way valve 112. Control can be done by arranging allof these items in a conditioned room or chamber. Control of temperatureand relative humidity can assist in preventing premature activation ofthe probiotic microorganism. In at least one embodiment, the conditionedroom 125 can be at around 100° F. and at a relative humidity of about10% or lower. Once the probiotic microorganisms are coated with thecocoa butter, the risk of pre-mature activation of the probioticmicroorganism can be dramatically reduced by use of a conditioned room.The conditioned room 125 can also prevent condensation from forming onthe probiotic component.

Homogenous mixing of the probiotic microorganisms in the cocoa butterand with the white coating can be one embodiment. In some instances,problems arise with proper disbursement of the probiotic microorganismsand the cocoa butter throughout the white coating to form the combinedmixture. At least one of those problems is the probiotic microorganismsnot being disbursed in a relatively homogenous fashion throughout thecombined mixture. This combined mixture, as described above, is theprobiotic microorganisms and cocoa butter mixture combined with thewhite coating. This problem can arise when increased counts of probioticmicroorganisms are used. Specifically, this problem can arise at levelssuch as 10¹⁰ CFU of the probiotic microorganisms. One way of addressingthis problem associated with proper disbursement of the probioticmicroorganisms in a homogenous fashion throughout the white coatingmixture can be to create a two phase process of mixing the white coatingwith the probiotic microorganisms and cocoa butter mixture. FIG. 2 is aschematic showing one embodiment of a mixing process 20 than can beused. In this embodiment, the composition of the supplement can comprisecocoa butter, sweetener in the form of a white coating, one embodimentof which is described hereinabove as available from Blommer, and aprobiotic component in the form of probiotic microorganisms. As before,initially the cocoa butter can heated up to around 130° F. and melted ina cocoa butter tank 201. This heating can be done at least eight hours,or even longer, prior production of the final pet food supplement.Heating at least eight hours or more prior to production helps to removeresidual water from the cocoa butter. After heating and melting, theheated cocoa butter can then be transported and cooled down to around110° F., or 105° F., or even lower. This cool down to 110 or 105° F.from 130° F. helps to reduce inactivation of the probioticmicroorganisms by the heat of the cocoa butter. The cocoa butter can betransported into a mix tank 203. At this point, the appropriate quantityof probiotic microorganism from tank 202 can be dosed into the mix tank203 to be mixed with the cocoa butter. The probiotic microorganism canbe variable in granule size. It can range from dusty to particles thatcan be up to 2 or 3 mm in diameter. The probiotic microorganism can bederived from a fermentation culturing process where a starter organismis added to a nutrient rich growth media in a liquid (aqua) basedenvironment. After the bacteria mix has grown through the log phase ofgrowth (rapid bacterial growth), the bacterial mix is dried down througha spray drying process. It can then be stored at −4° C. or less. Thismix tank 203 can be maintained at around 105° F. Thus, the mix tank 203can be the location of the mixing of the probiotic microorganisms andthe heated and melted cocoa butter.

At this point, the mixture of the cocoa butter and probioticmicroorganisms can be combined with the white coating to assist inproper disbursement of the probiotic microorganisms. Such a combinationcan occur in mix tank 203. As before, clumping of the cocoa butter andmicroorganism mixture should be avoided, especially prior to addition ofthe white coating. Thus, mixing of the probiotic microorganisms andcocoa butter can be done for about five minutes until a smooth or mostlysmooth mixture is attained. Once the mixture of probiotic microorganismsand cocoa butter is without or mostly without clumps, is mostly, if notcompletely, homogeneous, and the probiotic microorganisms are saturatedor fully coated with the cocoa butter, a first addition of the whitecoating can be added to the mixture. This first addition of the whitecan comprise only a portion of the total amount of white coating thatwill eventually be added to the entire mixture. Again, this firstaddition can assist in proper disbursement of the probioticmicroorganisms in the final combined mixture. In one embodiment, onlyabout 30% of the total white coating is added to the probioticmicroorganisms and cocoa butter mixture in this first addition. Asbefore, the white coating can be pulled from a white coating tank 204.The white coating tank 204 can be maintained in the white coating tankat about 105° F. and can be held at this temperature for around 24 hoursor more prior to mixing it with the cocoa butter and probioticmicroorganism mixture. The mixing that occurs with this first additionof the white coating can occur in mix tank 203. Again, as before, itshould be understood that a conditioned room 205 that is shaded in FIG.2 can control the temperature and relative humidity of at least the mixtank 203. Control can be done by arranging all of these items in aconditioned room or chamber. Control of temperature and relativehumidity can assist in preventing premature activation of the probioticmicroorganism. In at least one embodiment, the conditioned room 125 canbe at around 100° F. and at a relative humidity of about 10% or lower.Once the probiotic microorganisms are coated with the cocoa butter, therisk of pre-mature activation of the probiotic microorganism can bedramatically reduced by use of a conditioned room.

Upon addition of the first addition of the white coating to the mix tank203 and mixing of the combined mixture of probiotics microorganisms,cocoa butter, and white coating, a second amount of white coating can bemixed with the combined mixture. Such mixing can occur in mix tank 206.At this point, however, mix tank 206 can already contain the rest of thewhite coating so that the cocoa butter, probiotic microorganisms, andfirst addition white coating can be added to the mix tank 206, which canalready contain the white coating. In one embodiment where about 30% ofthe white coating was used a first addition, as above, the leftoverabout 70% can be used. The white coating can be pulled from whitecoating tank 204 into mix tank 206 prior to addition of the cocoabutter, probiotic microorganisms, and first addition white coatingmixture. Again, the white coating tank 204 can be maintained at about105° F. The white coating can be held at about 105° F. for around 24hours or more prior to mixing. White coating tank 204 can hold forstorage the white coating and can keep it in melted form for mixing. Ithas been found that for consistency purposes and for a better endproduct that it can be advantageous to mix the cocoa butter, probioticmicroorganism mixture, and first addition white coating into the whitecoating in mix tank 206. Mix tank 206 can be maintained at around 100 to105° F. A pump can be included and can be used to circulate the cocoabutter, probiotic microorganism, and first addition white coatingmixture with the white coating over mix tank 206 to create a combinedmixture. The combined mixture can be sent to mix tank 207 and mixed witha colorant, as above, which can be added from tank 208 into the mixture.To assure sufficient mixing of all of the components, one embodiment caninclude mixing of the components for at least about 20 minutes to form ahomogenous mixture. At this point, the mixture can have meltingproperties such that it is a complete crystalline solid at 0° C., beginscrystallizing at 18° C., and begins melting at 25° C., and is in acomplete liquid phase at 39° C.

Upon a sufficiently homogenous mixture of the cocoa butter, probioticmicroorganism, white coating, and colorant, if any, the combined mixturecan be sent to further processing equipment for making into the desiredform of the pet food supplement. In one embodiment, the mixture can bedeposited into blister pack trays as part of the overall process. Inthis embodiment, the blister pack trays comprise any number ofthermoformed blister enclosures that can function and can serve as moldsfor the mixture. The blister pack tray and the enclosures, as describedin more detail hereinafter, can comprise any number of shapes, sizes,and configurations to serve any number of functions in completing thepet food supplement manufacturing process and in delivering the pet foodsupplement to a consumer. As mentioned above, the mixture can bedeposited into the thermoformed blister enclosure, which functions as amold for the mixture. The temperature of the mixture during depositinginto the blister enclosure can be around 100° F. The blister pack,enclosure, and deposited mixture then can go through a cooling processthat allows the mixture to harden in the enclosure. The cooling processcan occur through a cooling tunnel, for example, and can occur at around60° F. for about seven to twelve minutes. Of course, cooling can becompleted at other temperatures and times, and such temperatures andtimes are dependent on one another. For example, cooling can be done ataround 50° F., or even below 50° F., for around five to ten minutes.During this cooling, the mixture will harden and crystallize while inthe enclosure mold to form a solid supplement. If the enclosure moldcomprises a specific shape, the mixture can harden into that shape.Non-limiting examples of such shapes and forms include round, oval,rectangular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, octagonal, bone, heart,and steak, and are described in further detail hereinafter. Aftercooling, the enclosure can be sealed with a closure, such as a foilclosure that can be rupturable by a consumer using nominal force.Sealing of the closure, with foil, can be completed at the appropriatetemperature and dwell time based on the type of material used for thefoil and blister pack. At this point, a blister pack with blisterenclosures filled with pet food supplements has been manufactured. Oncesealed, the blister pack can then be inserted into a secondary containeror package, the configuration of which is described hereinafter in moredetail.

The above processing allows extremely consistent and controllable dosingthrough the supplement. By sufficient and homogenous mixing of themultiple components, a controllable amount of probiotic component can beprovided in a single supplement and results in an end product that isconsistent, reliable, and dependable in providing a dose of a probioticcomponent in a supplement.

Another suitable process for the preparation of pet food compositionscan be at least partial extrusion, although baking and other suitableprocesses may be used. When extruded, the dried pet food is usuallyprovided in the form of a kibble. A process is described in EP0,850,569.

The packages and supplements of embodiments of the present invention cancomprise probiotic components for use with any of a variety ofconditions and/or to achieve a variety of health benefits. The presentcompositions can be used to deliver a benefit, or benefits, followingoral consumption in animals, preferably a pet. This benefit generallymaintains and improves the overall health of the animal. Non-limitingelements of animal health and physiology that benefit, either intherapeutically relieving the symptoms of, or disease prevention byprophylaxis, or improvement of overall health, including treatment ofthe immune system, treatment of the gastrointestinal system, treatmentof skin or coat, treatment of stress, and combinations thereof.Non-limiting examples include inflammatory disorders, immunodeficiency,inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer(particularly those of the gastrointestinal and immune systems), otitisexterna, diarrheal disease, antibiotic associated diarrhea,appendicitis, autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer'sdisease, amyloidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, joint mobility,hip dysplasia, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, bacterialinfections, viral infections, fungal infections, periodontal disease,urogenital disease, idiopathic cystitis, interstitial cystitis, surgicalassociated trauma, surgical-induced metastatic disease, sepsis, weightloss, weight gain, excessive adipose tissue accumulation, anorexia,fever control, cachexia, wound healing, ulcers, gut barrier infection,allergy, asthma, respiratory disorders, circulatory disorders, coronaryheart disease, anemia, disorders of the blood coagulation system, renaldisease, disorders of the central nervous system, hepatic disease,ischemia, nutritional disorders, treatment or prevention of disordersinvolving the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, osteoporosis,endocrine disorders, and epidermal disorders. Preferred are treatment ofthe gastrointestinal tract, including treatment or prevention ofdiarrhea; immune system regulation, preferably the treatment orprevention of autoimmune disease and inflammation, maintaining orimproving the health of the skin and/or coat system, preferably treatingor preventing atopic disease of the skin, treatment or prevention ofdisorders involving the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis,ameliorating or reducing the effects of aging, including mentalawareness and activity levels, and preventing weight loss during andfollowing infection.

Other examples of health benefits provided to canines by embodiments ofthe present invention are disclosed in U.S. Publication Nos.2005/0152884; 2005/0158293; 2005/0158294; and 20050175598A1; as well asWO05060707A2. Other examples of health benefits provided to felines byembodiments of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. PublicationNos. 2006/0269534; 2006/0270020; 20050175598A1; as well as WO05060707A2.Moreover, methods of the present invention are disclosed in the abovepublications.

Embodiments of the present invention include packaging for storage,shipment, and display for sale of composition embodiments of the presentinvention, including the supplement as herein described. Compositionembodiments of the present invention can be packaged and sealed inpackaging systems that will not absorb fat from the compositions.Additionally, the probiotic component can have heat sensitizationproperties. Those properties can result in requiring packaging systemsthat have the ability to be cold shipped, such as at temperatures lessthan about 75° F. These factors can be important in determining thetypes of components used in the packaging of the compositions of thepresent invention.

With respect to the packaging aspects of embodiments of the presentinvention, the following definitions can be used.

“Communicate” as used herein means a package or container that conveysinformation to a consumer about a product, such as a supplement, withinthe package or container. In one example, the information about theproduct may be conveyed to a consumer by textual or non-textual indicia.

“Intuitively communicated” as used herein means a package or containerand/or the product, such as a supplement, itself that comprises textualor non-textual indicia and conveys information by the indicia that aconsumer interprets.

“Indicia” as used herein means an identifier and/or indicator and/orhint and/or suggestion that can be included on a container or a product,such as a supplement, of the nature of a property of something, such asan intensive property of a sanitary tissue product.

“Textual indicia” as used herein means a text indicia, such as a wordand/or phrase that communicates to a consumer. Textual indicia can beused to inform the consumer of particular health benefits associatedwith a supplement. For example, if a joint and mobility health benefitis provided by a supplement, text can be included anywhere on theprimary container, secondary container, the supplement itself, or on anyother part of the embodiment to communicate the consumer that a jointand mobility health benefit is provided. A non-limiting example of suchtextual indicia can be the words “Joint Mobility” written on thesecondary container and viewable by a consumer. Any other kind or formof textual indicia to communicate a health benefit is contemplated.

“Brand name” as used herein means a single source identifier, in otherwords, a brand name identifies a product and/or service as exclusivelycoming from a single commercial source (i.e., company). An example of abrand name is Iams™, Brand names are nonlimiting examples of textualindicia. The supplements of the present invention may be marketed and/orpackaged under a common brand name (i.e., the same brand name, such asIams™).

“Non-textual indicia” as used herein means non-text indicia thatcommunicates to a consumer through a consumer's senses. In one example,a non-textual indicia may communicate, even intuitively communicate, toa consumer through sight (visual indicia).

Non-limiting examples of non-textual indicia include colors, textures,patterns, such as emboss or deboss patterns and/or emboss or debosspattern images, character representations, action representations, andmixture thereof.

“Color” as used herein means a visual effect resulting from a humaneye's ability to distinguish the different wavelengths or frequencies oflight. The apparent color of an object depends on the wavelength of thelight that it reflects.

Generally, the packaging for the pet food supplement of embodiments ofthe present invention can comprise a primary container, the primarycontainer having at least one enclosure, the enclosure containing atleast one dosage unit or supplement, and the dosage unit or supplementcomprising a probiotic supplement. The primary container can be ablister pack, as referred to hereinabove, blister card, or blister sheetas would be understood and commonly used in the art. The primarycontainer can be of varying shape and size as desired based upon thenumber, size, and type of supplement contained therein and can be sizedto be conveniently portable. Non-limiting examples of such shapesinclude round, oval, rectangular, square, triangular, trapezoidal,hexagonal, octagonal, paw print, and combinations thereof. The shapescan include other indicia, such as trademarks, brand names, trade dressfeatures, and the like. For example, a paw print can be used, as shownin FIG. 3. The paw print can be embossed or debossed. The primarycontainer can also be formed to have means to permit separation of oneor more portions of the primary container, i.e. one or more portionscontaining an enclosure. As would be understood by those of skill in theart, non-limiting examples of such means include perforations, scoringand combinations thereof.

As would be understood by those skilled in the packaging arts, toinclude structure and making of packaging, a blister pack can includeone or more blister layers and a rupturable layer, the combination ofwhich encloses one or more supplements. Thus, the blister layer canprovide enclosures, in any suitable size and/or shape, for one or moresupplements of any suitable size, shape, or form. Enclosures can be ofany shape, non-limiting examples of such shapes include round, oval,rectangular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, octagonal, boneshape, steak shape, chicken leg shape, paw print shape, heart shape,fire hydrant, and combinations thereof. Of course, the supplement cantake these shapes as well and can do at least when the enclosure is amold for the supplement. The shapes can include other indicia, such astrademarks, brand names, trade dress features, and the like. Forexample, a paw print can be used, as shown in FIG. 3. The paw print canbe embossed or debossed. The rupturable layer permits the supplement tobe removed from the blister pack. The rupturable layer can be formedover all or a portion of the blister layer. The rupturable layer can beaffixed to the blister layer via the application of heat and pressure asis common in the art using conventional thermal forming methods, or byadhesive. Such blister packs can also comprise a backing layer that canbe disposed on or over the rupturable layer to prevent unintendedrupture and release of dosage units. Such backing layer can be peeledaway to expose the rupturable layer when release of a supplement isdesired. Such backing layer can be formed over all or a portion of therupturable layer. Such a backing layer can be affixed to the rupturablelayer and/or the blister layer via, for example, adhesive.

Blister layers can be made from a variety of suitable materials,non-limiting examples of which include polyvinyl chloride, thermoplasticmaterials, polyolefins and combinations thereof. The blister layer canbe opaque, partially opaque, or transparent, and can be colorless orcolored.

Rupturable layers can be made from a variety of suitable materials,non-limiting examples of which include metal foil, tempered metal foil,paperboard, polyvinyl chloride, polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyesters,fluoropolymer resins, and combinations thereof. The rupturable layer canalso be formed as a laminate composed of a plurality of laminated layersof different materials, so long as its basic operation and rupturabilityis not affected. The rupturable layer can be of any desired color.

Backing layers can be made from a variety of suitable materials,non-limiting examples of which include paper, plastic, polyvinylchloride, and combinations thereof. The backing layer can be of anydesired color.

An example of one embodiment of a primary container is depicted in FIG.3. Blister pack 30 can contain individual blister enclosures 31 andblister layer 33. Blister pack 30 can include one or more blister layers33 and a rupturable layer (not shown), the combination of which enclosesone or more pet food supplements. Thus, the blister pack of FIG. 3comprises at least one enclosure 31, the enclosure containing at leastone pet food supplement 32, the pet food supplement comprising aprobiotic component. The rupturable layer can permit the supplement tobe removed from the enclosure and thus the blister pack.

A cross section of an enclosure of one embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted in FIG. 3A. Enclosure 31, as shown, can be ahexagon. However, it should be understood that enclosure 31 can be madeinto any shape, and it can be symmetrical, as shown in FIG. 3A, orasymmetrical. Enclosure 31 can include lips 34 a and 34 b that form partof the blister layer 33 of FIG. 3. Lip 34 a can then end at surface 35,which begins to form the surface of the enclosure 31. Surface 35 canextend outwards from the interior of the enclosure 31 and then inwardtowards the interior of the enclosure, forming surface 36, forming aslight v-shape. Surface 36 can then extend downward and lessen its anglewith the vertical, forming body surface 37. Body surface 37 can form themain body of the supplement. Body surface 37 can then continue downwardand end at bottom surface 38. Bottom surface 38 can form the top of thesupplement and thus feature surface 39 can be used to include indiciaand/or be made into a shape, such as a paw print, to the top of thesupplement. Of course, feature surface 39 can be of any shape or size,as is described herein. In this configuration, the bottom surface 38 andthe body surface 37 define an interior volume for the supplement.

Fill line 40 can represent the height of a mixture or a finishedsupplement when filled or hardened in the enclosure 31. Not wishing tobe bound by theory, it can be advantageous for the finished supplementto fill the enclosure to fill line 40. In one embodiment, the mixturethat forms the supplement can be filled into enclosure 31. Once filled,it can harden while in the enclosure, and thus can take the shape of theenclosure. Upon hardening, a tight fit is not always achieved betweenthe supplement and the enclosure walls. In other words, as thesupplement has hardened, it does not always stay tightly fit intoenclosure 31. Some shrinkage can occur, some disturbance of thecontainers can occur, among other things, all of which can jostle thesupplement from its original fit into the enclosure 31. Thus, if thesupplement is jostled such that it is no longer tight fitting within theenclosure, it can have a tendency to move around within the enclosure31. Thus, surfaces 35 and 36 can together define a frill that can beuseful for preventing negative consequences due to the movement orjostling of the supplement. For example since the frill formed bysurfaces 35 and 36 can form a v-shape, and the top of the supplement isat or around fill line 40, surface 35 of the frill can have a topposition that can be inside of the outermost surface of the supplement,which can be at the transition between surface 35 and surface 36. Inother words, the largest radius of the enclosure, or the supplement whendeposited and hardened in the enclosure, which is formed by thetransition between surface 35 and surface 36, is greater than the radiusat the fill line 40. Thus, surface 35 can act as a stopper to preventthe supplement from falling out of the enclosure 31. Such a feature canbe extremely advantageous when enclosures are used as both a mold and aholding/shipping/delivery vehicle.

Feature surface 39, as mentioned above, can include any indicia and/orbe made into a shape. As shown, feature surface 39, when formed into ashape, can form a surface exterior to that of bottom surface 38. Whenenclosure 31 is an enclosure as part of a blister pack, feature surface39 can serve many purposes. For example, when feature surface 39 forms asurface exterior to that of bottom surface 38, it can allow a consumeran easier way to push out the supplement out of the enclosure andthrough any seal that can be present. Surface feature 39 can also depicta shape or indicia that can be correlated to a certain type of benefitprovided, to a certain brand, or to certain ingredients of thesupplement, as is described herein. Thus, this surface feature 39 can bean easy identifier to a consumer if the blister pack 30 is somehowseparated from its secondary container that includes indicia identifyingthe type of supplement contained therein.

Furthermore, the frill formed by surfaces 35 and 36 can allow forremoval of the supplement without deformation. Such removal can beachieved by maintaining a radius geometry in the frill and a minimumdepth of the frill. Also, the inclusion of a draft angle of the frill ofapproximately 5 degrees facilitates ease of dispensing without productdeformation.

The packaging for the pet food supplement of embodiments of the presentinvention can also optionally include a secondary container. A secondarycontainer can contain one or more separate, discrete primary containersand/or can be formed as an integrated structure with the primarycontainer. The secondary container can be of varying shape, size andform as desired based upon the number, size and type of primarycontainers contained therein and/or formed as a part thereof, and can besized to be conveniently portable. Non-limiting examples of such shapesand forms include round, oval, rectangular, square, triangular,trapezoidal, octagonal, foldable and combinations thereof. Non-limitingexamples of secondary containers include boxes and cartons. Non-limitingexamples of integrated primary and secondary containers include tri-foldstructures in which a primary container is affixed to a secondarycontainer that folds over one or more portions of the primary container;and structures shaped and structured similarly to a book in which one ormore primary structures form page-like structures bound within asecondary container outer covering forming an integrated structure. Theprimary and secondary containers can also be separate, discreteelements, and one or more primary containers can be removed from thesecondary container. The secondary container can be made from a varietyof materials, non-limiting examples of which include paper, paperboard,cardboard, plastic, and combinations thereof. FIG. 4 depicts oneembodiment of a secondary container and a primary container. Secondarycontainer 40 can be a carton or box. Primary container 30 can be ablister pack, as shown in FIG. 3 and as shown contained within carton 40in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the secondary container 40 also includesindicia 41, which can aid in directing a consumer or a veterinarian inthe selection of an appropriate supplement. In this embodiment, theindicia are text. Other non-limited examples of indicia are shapes,objects, pictures, brand names, words associated with benefits, etc.Particular indicia are described hereinafter. Secondary container 40 canalso comprise a viewing aperture 42. Viewing aperture 42 can permitviewing of a portion of primary container 30 therethrough. As shown inthe embodiment of FIG. 4, the supplement 32 of FIG. 3 can be viewablethrough the viewing aperture 42. The depth 43 of primary container 40can influence the distance that the supplement protrudes through theviewing aperture 42. For example, it depth 43 is sufficiently deep suchthat it is greater than the height of a supplement, the supplement willnot protrude through the viewing aperture. However, if the depth is lessthan the height of the supplement, the supplement, or at least a portionof the primary container, will protrude through the viewing aperture. Inaddition, secondary container 40 can have an indentation 44 that can beutilized by a consumer to aid in removal of primary container 30 fromsecondary container 40.

As described above and as is shown in FIG. 4, the secondary containercan also provide one or more viewing apertures, such as viewing aperture42, that can be an uncovered void in the secondary container or can be avoid covered by a material, non-limiting examples of which includetransparent plastic materials. A viewing aperture 42 can be used toallow viewing of one of the products in the primary container, and, asdescribed above, it can allow the supplement to protrude therethrough.

The secondary container can also aid in the storage, transport,distribution, display, and/or sale of the primary container and thesupplement contained therein.

As also described above and as is shown in FIG. 4, the secondarycontainer can also comprise one or more receiving portions to aid inhandling of the primary and/or secondary container, such as indentation44. Non-limiting examples of such receiving portions include one or moreindentations in the secondary container to allow access to and grippingof a primary container to permit removal of the primary container fromthe secondary container.

Such a combination of primary container and secondary container cancomprise an easy to dispense unit dosage of a supplement. Such acombination can be beneficial for a supplement comprising a probioticcomponent. The further combination of product form as a supplement andthe primary container and secondary container also promotes andencourages compliance. For example, a probiotic supplement can have aregime associated with it such that a beneficial dosage amount can beone supplement per day. Such a dosage amount should be easilyadministrable by a consumer. It has been found that the combination of asupplement in a primary container within a secondary container promotessuch a regime. Thus, this combination encourages and promotes regimentcompliance via an easy to use dosage form.

The primary container and/or the secondary container and/or thesupplements themselves can also comprise indicia, which indicia canenable a user to identify the appropriate package and/or appropriatesupplement to select based on the consumer's needs for its pet. Thus,the indicia can communicate with the consumer to identify theappropriate treatment and use thereof.

The supplements can be arranged in the primary container in any numberof ways, depending on the system and the desired treatment and/orbenefit. For example, a primary container can comprise multiple groupsof supplements arranged in multiple rows and/or columns of supplements,each supplement of a particular row or column can be the same type ofsupplement with each particular row or column of supplements comprisinga different probiotic component, or the same probiotic component, forproviding particular health benefits, as mentioned above. Thus, in oneembodiment, a blister pack as a primary container can have three rows orcolumns, and the first row can comprise a probiotic component associatedwith a first health benefit, the second row can comprise a probioticcomponent associated with a second health benefit, and the third row cancomprise a probiotic component associated with a third health benefit.Any number of rows or columns can be used, and any number of probioticcomponents and associated health benefits can be used. Each particularrow of probiotic can comprise a particular shape, particular indicia,and/or particular colors that can be associated with particular healthbenefits. Thus, a form of multi-pack of supplements for multiple healthbenefits can be embodied.

Moreover, color can be utilized to indicate the health benefit providedby a supplement. A color can be associated with a certain health benefitprovided. For example, green can be used to indicate a gastrointestinalbenefit that can provided by a supplement. Green can be used as indiciaon the primary container and/or on the secondary container. Any colorcan be used, and any color can be matched with a specific healthbenefit. The color can be used as indicia in any kind of form. Forexample, the color can be a stripe, or multiple stripes, going acrossany portion of the secondary or primary container. The color can be inthe form of other shapes, stripes, outlines of the containers. Colorscan be used in an array, as is described in more detail below. More thanone color can be used to indicate more than one benefit being provided.Furthermore, other certain indicia can be used, particularly consumerconscious indicia. Consumer conscious indicia can include, for example,a picture, or outline, of a companion animal, such as a dog, as shown inFIG. 5. A picture or outline of a dog 50 can include any variation ofthe breeds of dogs and is not limited in any way by the outline shown inFIG. 5. In FIG. 5, other indicia can be included to form consumerconscious indicia. As non-limiting examples, the outline of the dog 50can include target areas. Target areas can be areas or body parts of thedog that are highlighted, pointed to, or emphasized in any way and cansignal the area of the dog, or other companion animal, that the type ofhealth benefit that is being provided by the supplement. For example,target area 51 can generally be located in or around thegastrointestinal tract of the dog. The location can then signify to aconsumer that the supplement contained within that secondary containercan be a supplement that is for treating the gastrointestinal health ofthe dog. Other non-limiting areas of the dog that can be used, forexample, would include skin and coat shown by 52, eye health shown by53, diarrheal, and all other areas or body parts of the dog or companionanimal that can be represented by health benefits that a supplement cantreat. Such health benefits have been identified above. Moreover, theactual target can be exemplified by any indicia. Non-limiting examplesinclude trademarks, logos, stars, targets, highlighting, colors, etc.For example, a trademark can be used at the point of treatment, such asa paw print on the gastrointestinal tract. Of course, any animal can beused. Combinations of indicia can also be included such that, forexample, a secondary package can have green indicia, a dog can have atarget area located around the intestinal tract, a particularly shapedhexagon supplement can be shown in the viewing aperture, and a “GI” textcan be used on the secondary container for easy viewing, and thiscombinations of indicia all can represent a particular pet foodsupplement for treating the gastrointestinal tract of the dog. Ofcourse, any combination of these indicia can be used for a specifichealth benefit and can be used in combination with any of the otherpackaging aspects and supplement forms.

A color sleeve or meter can also be included. For example, any secondarycontainer containing a supplement sold by a specific company can includea color meter. Such a color meter can include an identification of allof the health benefits and their associated color indicia used on theprimary or secondary containers. In a non-limiting example shown in FIG.6, a color meter 60 can be rectangular, or any other shape, and can havecolor strips 61-68. Color strips 61-68 can be an actual color. Colorstrips 61-68 can be labeled in any fashion with a health benefit that isassociated with that color. Such a color strip can be included on allcontainers such that a consumer can be informed, or communicated with,of the supplement offerings for particular health benefits of aparticular company and can then best locate the particular supplementand health benefit easily by using color.

The supplement itself can be of any various colors. Such color can againbe used to indicate the type of health benefit being provided, as above.In one embodiment, the supplement can be generally beige or brown incolor. In other embodiments, the supplement can be of any color. Thecolors, as above, can be indicative of the health benefit. It is alsoenvisioned that supplements can comprise multiple probiotic componentssuch that a single supplement provides multiple health benefits. In sucha case, the supplement can be any color, or it could be a marbling ofcolors. Such a marbling of colors can indicate multiple health benefitssince multiple colors are present.

The colors can be represented by the Hunter Lab color space. As is wellknown in the art, the Hunter values are a measure of reflected light anduse three parameters: L, a, and b. Generally, “L” denotes the level ofwhite/black, or lightness, and the “a” and “b” values are termed theopponent color axes. The “a” opponent color axis represents,approximately, the redness or greenness (positive or negative) while the“b” opponent color axis represents the yellowness or blueness (positiveor negative). The color white can be represented by an “L” value of 100while the color black is represented by an “L” value of 0. The colorgray can be represented by “L” values between 0 and 100 at a and bvalues of zero. The color red can be represented by a positive “a” valuewhile the color green can be represented by a negative “a” value. Thecolor yellow can be represented by a positive “b” value while the colorblue can be represented by a negative “b” value. All values included andtherebetween for each of the colors associated with the Hunter valuesare within the scope of the embodiments of this invention and can berepresented as red, green, blue, yellow, purple, tan, brown, beige,black, white, gray, orange, pink, lavender, pink and combinations andmixtures thereof based on their particular Hunter Lab values.

Many test methods for measuring the Hunter Lab color and its associatedvalues are well known in the color art. Any of those test methods can beused within embodiments of the present invention. One non-limitingexample of a test method is disclosed hereinafter.

Color-containing surfaces are tested in a dry state and at an ambienthumidity of approximately 500%.±0.2%. Reflectance color is measuredusing the Hunter Lab LabScan XE reflectance spectrophotometer obtainedfrom Hunter Associates Laboratory of Reston, Va. The spectrophotometeris set to the CIELab color scale and with a D50 illumination. TheObserver is set at 10°. The Mode is set at 45/0°. Area View is set to0.125″. Port Size is set to 0.20″ for films. Area View is set to 1.00″,and Port Size is set to 1.20″ other materials. The spectrophotometer iscalibrated prior to sample analysis utilizing the black and whitereference tiles supplied from the vendor with the instrument.Calibration is done according to the manufacturer's instructions as setforth in LabScan XE User's Manual, Manual Version 1.1, August 2001,A60-1010-862.

If cleaning is required of the reference tiles or samples, only tissuesthat do not contain embossing, lotion, or brighteners should be used(e.g., Puffs® tissue). Any sample point on the externally visiblesurface of the element containing the imparted color to be analyzedshould be selected. Sample points are selected so as to be close inperceived color. A sample of the material being tested is placed overthe spectrophotometer's sample port. The sample comprising the color tobe analyzed must be larger than the sample port to ensure accuratemeasurements. A white tile, as supplied by the manufacturer, is placedbehind the externally visible surface. The L*, a*, and b* values areread and recorded. The externally visible surface is removed andrepositioned so that a minimum of six readings are obtained for theexternally visible surface. If possible (e.g., the size of the impartedcolor on the element in question does not limit the ability to have sixdiscretely different, non-overlapping sample points), each of thereadings is to be performed at a substantially different region on theexternally visible surface so that no two sample points overlap. If thesize of the imparted color region requires overlapping of sample points,only six samples should be taken with the sample points selected tominimize overlap between any two sample points. The readings areaveraged to yield the reported L*, a*, and b* values for a specifiedcolor on an externally visible surface of an element.

It is also envisioned that the containers and products of the presentinvention can communicate with a consumer, as described above. Suchcommunication can be intuitive. For example, after usage of a particularsupplement, a consumer may relate a particularly shaped supplement witha particular health benefit. Moreover, a consumer may relate aparticularly colored container or supplement with a particular healthbenefit. Any other indicia described above may be related by a consumerwith a particular health benefit. Thus, at a point, the supplementand/or the containers may intuitively communicate with a consumer suchthat the consumer readily identifies the supplement and/or the containerwith a certain health benefit, and such identification by the consumermay be based on the indicia related to the container and/or supplement.

Embodiments of the present invention also include an array. An array ofcontainers, either primary or secondary, can be arranged. An array ofsupplement containers can comprise, for example, a first container, suchas either a primary or a secondary container, and a second container,such as either a primary or a secondary container. In a non-limitingexample, a first container comprises a secondary container housing aprimary container of supplements and a second container comprises asecondary container housing a primary container of supplements. Thefirst container and the second container may comprise indicia, eithertextual or non-textual. The indicia may be associated with a healthbenefit that is provided by the supplement. The indicia may also includea color in the form of a stripe on the secondary container, whereby thecolor also is associated with a particular health benefit. Of course,multiple indicia can be used.

The array may comprise a third, a fourth, or any number of furthercontainers. An array may comprise an entire lineup of offerings by aspecific company for a specific product, such as a probiotic supplement.The further containers of the array may comprise indicia.

In some embodiments, a secondary container can contain a primarycontainer, which can contain a single type of supplement, for examplesupplements for providing a first type of health benefit, such asincreased mobility. Another primary container can comprise anothersingle type of supplement, for example supplements for providing asecond type of health benefit such as skin and coat health. The primarycontainers, the supplements, and/or the secondary container can compriseindicia, as described hereinabove, to enable a user to identify theappropriate health benefit being provided by the supplement, and thusselect the appropriate supplement and use thereof. These containers canbe arranged in an array, as described above, such that a mobilitysupplement and a skin and coat supplement can be provided on a storeshelf, in a veterinarian's office, or in any display used to communicatethe product. The health benefit can be any of those describedhereinabove. Such an array of primary containers and/or secondarycontainers can further comprise indicia located on the primarycontainer, as described hereinabove. A secondary container, whichincludes a primary container, can contain at least one, two, three, orany number of elements or forms of indicia on the package. In onenon-limiting example, a secondary container, which includes a primarycontainer, can contain at least three elements or forms of indicia onthe container. Those three forms of indicia can be a picture or drawingof a dog, a supplement, such as in the form of a hexagon, and a brandname, such as Iams™. Other forms of indicia can be included and aredescribed hereinabove.

It also envisioned that a single container, whether primary orsecondary, can include different types of products, or supplements, suchthat a single container has a first supplement for providing a firsthealth benefit and a second supplement for providing a second healthbenefit. Additional supplements can be included. A secondary containercan also include a first primary container of supplements for providinga first health benefit and a second primary container for providing asecond health benefit. Additional containers and supplements can beincluded.

Multi-packs of secondary containers can also be envisioned. A multi-packmay include one or more secondary containers, which may contain one ormore primary containers, which may include one or more supplements,wherein the supplements can provide multiple health benefits. Thus, amulti-pack of containers may include several supplements for providingseveral health benefits. In such a scenario, a consumer could purchaseone multi-pack that contains many supplements for providing many healthbenefits.

In addition to the supplement containers described hereinabove,marketing articles such as in-store ads, in-store flyers, print ads,periodical ads, billboards, end-of-aisle displays, pallet wrappers,additional packaging, corrugated boxes, floor ads, window stick-on ads,shelf talkers, internet sites, etc. associated with the supplementproducts may also comprise indicia. The indicia on the marketingarticles may be matched to a health benefit provided by the supplement.

The present invention can also include kits that can comprise one ormore systems of the present invention packaged in combination withcomplementary pet products, such as any type of product normally foundin a pet supply store.

Other Forms of the Supplement

The final pet food supplement can take many forms of a pet food, such asa tablet, capsule, or the like, or other forms such as biscuits, chews,edible films or other treats, which are intended to be used not asentire pet meals but in addition to regularly consumed pet food meals.

Many known pet food compositions and supplements are available in avariety of forms and textures. Most of these pet food compositions tendto be inflexible, such as extruded pet food kibbles, compressed tablets,or gelatin capsules. Depending upon the intended use or function of thecomposition, inflexibility may be a property that is desirable orundesirable. For example, a product texture that is suitable to healthypets, such as a kibble, provides the desirable advantage of enabling thepet to easily consume to provide the nutrients necessary to sustainlife. However, for pets with oral disease, hard textures can pose anergonomic challenge. In those instances, products such as a tablet,extruded, or baked compositions are harder to fracture duringmastication due to tooth loss or health status. This problem isespecially true for canines with brachycephalic skulls, such as boxers,pugs, etc., which are prone to oral and mastication issues. In thisinstance, a softer composition would result in better compliance andconsumption unless the form is found to be unacceptable to the animal.Gelatin capsules are an example of a supplement that can provide lessfracture force than a traditional extruded or baked composition, but thetexture does not ensure compliance with all canines. Rinses, gels, andsauces can also provide broader appeal to dogs with oral issues, butthey often require the consumer to mix or add the fluid to anothersubstrate for consumption, or they must place the fluid on a secondarydeliver vehicle such as a bowl, brush, etc. These further forms arecontemplated as within the scope of embodiments of the presentinvention.

It can also be advantageous to provide pet food compositions/supplementswith probiotic component benefits that can be delivered in a stand aloneform that can be easily handled by the consumer for direct feeding to apet. Similarly, little effort should be required by the pet to consumethe product to achieve a benefit, regardless of life stage or healthstatus. A non-limiting example of this embodiment can be the use of afat based probiotic treat that is a solid at ambient temperature, and aliquid at the target animal body temperature. In that manner, the treatcould be hand fed to a pet, but the form would provide a soft texturefor the pet to chew making it suitable for all breeds and life stages.Additionally, if prolonged mastication were required, the treat wouldquickly liquefy in the animal's mouth to deliver the desired healthbenefit. This further form is contemplated as within the scope ofembodiments of the present invention.

Still other forms of the supplement can be envisioned. In oneembodiment, compressed tablets can be made. A compressed tablet cancomprise any of the ingredients described hereinabove. In one process,the probiotic component can be combined with an excipient, non-limitingexamples of which include fibers, other fillers, and pre-biotics. Abinder can be included, non-limited examples of which include cellulose,methyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and polyethylene glycol. Thismixture can be put through a fluid bed rotor granulator, as is known tothose of skill in the art. Upon drying, lubricants, non-limitingexamples of which include talic, silica, and fats, and disentegrants,non-limiting examples of which include starch, cellulose, cross-linkedpolyvinyl pyrrolidone, sodium starch glycolate, sodium, andcarboxymethyl cellulosemethycellulose can be added. Upon compression,coating can be done along with other standard procedures as known tothose of ordinary skill in the art, including cooling, to form a tabletcomprising a probiotic component.

Another form can be compressed tablets enrobed with a coating. Thecompressed tablet above can be made. However, an additional step can beincluded after compression such that a coating, such as the Blommerwhite kreemy coating component described hereinabove, can be used toenrobe the tablet. The resulting product is an enrobed compressed tabletcomprising a probiotic component.

Another form can be lentils, which can be pan coated. Lentils can bemade by using the cocoa butter, probiotic, and Blommer coating mixture,as hereinabove described. That mixture can be deposited onto rollers ataround 10 degrees below 0° F., depending on the speed of the rollers.Pan coating can then be done at around 68° F. for about three hoursusing medium tumble. A 1 to 11 6×sugar and 1 to 70 gum mix can be addedwith additional pan coating at about 75 to 100° F. Drying can then bedone at about 60 to 70° F. for at least 10 hours. The pan coater canthen be run again, at about 100° F. for about 20 minutes, and 1 to 6.674% syrup mixed with a colorant can be added during the run. The pancoater can be run for an additional two minutes at around 85° F. whileadding shellac with alcohol. A final lentil can then be formed

Another form can be lentils, which can be pan coated with a second highmelting point layer. Lentils can be made by using the cocoa butter,probiotic, and Blommer coating mixture, as hereinabove described. Thatmixture can be deposited onto rollers at around 10 degrees below 0° F.,depending on the speed of the rollers. The pan coater can then be runfor about 30 minutes, and a 1 to 11 6×sugar and 1 to 70 gum mix can beadded with additional pan coating at about 75 to 100° F. Drying can thenbe done at about 60 to 70° F. for at least 10 hours. At this point, itcan be pan coated with a higher melting point fat. At least options canbe chosen after pan coating with a higher melting point fat: 1) cool thelentils down for a final product; 2) run the pan coater for anadditional amount of time at 85° F., which can be 2 minutes, with theaddition of shellac with alcohol, and then cool down; or 3) run the pancoater for an additional amount of time at a temperature of about 100°F. while mixing in 1 to 6.6 74% syrup with a white colorant, followed byrunning the pan coater for an additional amount of time at 85° F., whichcan be 2 minutes, with the addition of shellac with alcohol, and thencool down.

With respect to the second high melting point layer lentil, two otheroptions exist for processing before depositing on the rollers at around10 degrees below 0° F.: 1) the mixture can be simply dropped on movingbelt in the appropriate sized lentil followed by crystallizing andcooling, after which one can pan coat at approximately 68° F. for aboutthree hours followed by any of the processing options above with respectto the pan coater; or 2) the mixture can be deposited into forms incavity trays, then followed by crystallizing and cooling, then removedfrom the tray, and then one can pan coat at approximately 68° F. forabout three hours followed by any of the processing options above withrespect to the pan coater.

A seeding crystal can be included. A seeding crystal can be used toenable the product to be quickly re-formed into its solid form ifmelting or other means as caused the supplement to lose its desired hardform. A seeding crystal, as is well known in the art, comprises a smallsingle crystal that can be placed into a saturated or supersaturatedsolution to grow a large crystal. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, a seeding crystal can assist in the crystallization of asupplement if it becomes a liquid due to high temperatures.

EXAMPLE

In one example, pet supplements or treats are to be made. Eachsupplement or treat will contain approximately 5×10¹⁰ CFU of probioticmicroorganism. Each treat will weigh approximately 2.5 grams and have acomposition of probiotic animalis at 10%, cocoa butter at 3.39%, Blommerwhite coating at 86.28%, and 37542 Brown Dispersion OB paprika colorantat 0.33%, by weight of the total composition. This composition isprepared as follows:

In a temperature and humidity controlled chamber of approximately 10% orless relative humidity and at 100° F., the cocoa butter is heated toabout 130° F. and then cooled down to about 105° F. The cocoa butter andprobiotic are mixed thoroughly in a mix tank until a dough-likeconsistency is reached. At this point, approximately 30% of the whitecoating, which has been in a tank outside of the controlled chamber andis has been held at about 105° F. for about 24 hours, is added to thecocoa butter and probiotic mixture. This combined mixture is thoroughlymixed for about five minutes or until a smooth consistency is reached.The remainder of the white coating is added to a separate mix tank. Atthis time, the combined mixture, which has been thoroughly mixed forabout five minutes or until a smooth consistency is reached, is added tothe remainder of the white coating in the separate mix tank. Thismixture is then mixed thoroughly for about five minutes. At this time,the colorant is added to the mixture. This final mixture is mixedthoroughly for about 20 minutes, resulting in a supplement compositionthat is ready for addition to a mold for hardening and packaging.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests ordiscloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1. A pet supplement comprising an amount of probiotic microorganismscoated with a first fat component having a first melting point; and asource of a sweetener component comprising sugar and a second fatcomponent having a second melting point; Wherein the second meltingpoint is higher than the first melting point.
 2. The pet supplement ofclaim 1, wherein the supplement is molded.
 3. The pet supplement ofclaim 1, wherein the probiotic component comprises one or more yeast orbacterial microorganisms.
 4. The pet supplement of claim 3, wherein theprobiotic component comprises a bacterial microorganism selected fromthe genera Bacillus, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus,Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, or a combination thereof.
 5. (canceled) 6.The pet supplement of claim 1, comprising a viable probioticmicroorganism count of at least about 10⁵ colony forming units per gramof composition.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The pet supplement of claim 1, having ashelf life of from about six to about eighteen months.
 9. (canceled) 10.The pet supplement of claim 1, wherein the sweetener component comprisesone or more mono- or disaccharides having a melting point of from 80° C.to 140° C.
 11. The pet supplement of claim 10, wherein the mono- ordisaccharide consists of sorbitol, xylitol or a combination of these.12. The pet supplement of claim 1, wherein the first fat componentcomprises a cocoa butter component.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The petsupplement of claim 12, wherein the cocoa butter component does notcomprise a cocoa butter substitute.
 15. The pet supplement of claim 1,wherein neither the first or second fat component comprises an animalfat.
 16. The pet supplement of claim 1, further comprising one or morefermentable fibers. 17-24. (canceled)
 25. The pet supplement of claim16, wherein the fermentable fibers are selected from beet pulp,fructooligosaccharide or a combination thereof.
 26. A method of making apet supplement comprising mixing a first fat component comprising cocoabutter with a probiotic component to provide a homogeneous mixture;mixing a sweetener component to the homogeneous mixture of probioticcomponent and fat component to provide a homogenous pet supplementmixture; and forming the pet supplement mixture into pet supplements.27. The method of claim 26, wherein the fat component is melted prior tomixing with the probiotic component and cooled to a temperature of 110°F. or lower prior to mixing with the probiotic component.
 28. The methodof claim 26, wherein the fat component is held in a melted state for 8hours or longer prior to mixing with the probiotic component.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the temperature during mixing of thesweetener component and the homogeneous mixture of probiotic componentand fat component is maintained at from 100 to 105° F.
 30. The method ofclaim 26, wherein at least the mixing of the fat component and theprobiotic component is conducted in a conditioned room or chambermaintained at a temperature of about 100° F. and a relative humidity of10% or lower.
 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the mixing of thesweetener component to the homogeneous mixture of probiotic componentand fat component occurs in at least two steps.
 32. The method of claim26, further comprising providing the formed pet supplement with a layercomprising a second fat component having a higher melting point than thefirst fat component.